The Football Supporters' Federation's chairman Malcolm Clarke said clubs need to be more realistic in setting prices during a recession.

Ticket prices have priced out thousands of supporters

"Despite the difficult economic times we live in, prices at some clubs and at some levels of the game are still exceedingly high," Clarke told the BBC.

"We would like to see a much greater effort to reduce ticket prices and in particular give the benefit of the massive amounts of media income that comes in at the top of the game to the match-going fan."

In Lord Justice Taylor's report following the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, it was recommended that grounds be converted into all‑seater stadia. Back then, a Manchester United fan could watch the beginning of Alex Ferguson's dynasty from the famed Stretford End for a cheapest price of £3.50.

The Bank of England regard cumulative inflation of 77.1% since 89-90, so United's fans would now pay an equivalent of £6.20 to watch the most successful domestic English club side, only it now costs £30 minimum

Arsenal's cheapest ticket for a category A game, ie. a fixture against Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United or Manchester City, is now £62. In 89-90, it cost £5 for a Category A match on Highbury's North Bank. Since the Taylor Report, that represents inflation of over 1,000% in ticket prices for the Gunners.

Taylor's report was admittedly published in January 1990, two-and-a-half-years before English football's Premier League boom, which escalated commercialism in the game as Sky Sports began to broadcast top-tier matches with increasing regularity.

The takeover of several clubs, new stadiums and competition for matchday revenue are other pertinent factors which have contributed to the rise.